The Mr. Collegiate African American Pageant (MCAAP) is back! Black male college students, primarily from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s) and other universities across the nation are invited to compete in the 2010 pageant set for March 24-27 in Prairie View and Houston,Texas.
Mr. Collegiate was created in 1990 and the first pageant was held in April 1992. According to Frederick Roberts, a spokesperson for the pageant, the MCAAP's mission is to empower Black men with role modeling, character education, values clarification, and to embrace every opportunity given to him in a proper manner. This year's theme is "Be Ye Transformed: Our Heritage, Our Legacy.” The pageant, the first of its kind in the world, is being sponsored in conjunction with the National Leadership Summit on the Black Male, set for March 24-27, 2010.
"Students should participate in the pageant because it provides them the opportunity to develop the spirit of competition," Roberts said. "Additionally, the pageant provides programs for personal and professional development, self-esteem and confidence building, enhancement of leadership skills and developing a sense of responsibility to help the [Black] race."
Candidates will compete in five categories: personal and private interview; platform expression; talent; evening wear; and on-stage interview question. The young men will be judged by a panel consisting of professionals from the entertainment, academic and business community. Past judges have included mayors, council members, and executive producers of
The pageant winners will receive more than $10,000 in scholarships and prizes ( may include iPods, Blackberry and Verizon services, etc.) and the opportunity to represent the pageant throughout the year and receive media coverage (e.g. ABC, GMA, CBS, Montell, Oprah, ET!, USA Today, MTV, BET, etc.)
